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Big Timber vs Boulder

108 miles apart. The biggest differences: work in town (+31.8 pts in Big Timber) and jobs per worker (2.2× in Big Timber).

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Big Timber, MTA history townMontana · 1,611 people
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Boulder, MTHomes around $348KMontana · 1,284 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Big TimberA history town
History15 archive photos & papers4 places on the National Register HealthHealthier than 71%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors17.4% conserved land0.4 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Big Timber →
BoulderHomes around $348K
Housing$348K typical home26% below the MT typical home HealthHealthier than 68%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates History12 archive photos & papers3 places on the National Register All about Boulder →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Work in town+31.8 pts
More of Big Timber’s workers stay in town
Big Timber 34.6%Boulder 2.8%
Jobs per worker2.2×
Big Timber is more of a job hub
Big Timber 1.27Boulder 0.59
Property tax bill+28%
Tax bills are bigger in Boulder
Boulder $1,834Big Timber $1,433
Average commute6 min
Big Timber has the shorter commute
Boulder 25 minBig Timber 19 min
Conserved land+11.8 pts
Big Timber has more conserved land
Big Timber 17.4%Boulder 5.6%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $470 more a month in Big Timber

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Big Timber$2,540/mo
Typical home $449K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.52% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →
Boulder$2,080/mo
Typical home $348K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.86% · or rent about $928/mo · Housing →

The difference: $470 a month, about $5,600 a year, between Big Timber and Boulder.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Montana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
B−Big TimberBetter than 52% of districts in the state B−BoulderBetter than 46% of districts in the state
Health
B+Big TimberHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns B+BoulderHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
Big TimberBoulder
Snow a year55″—
January low20°F—
July high86°F—
Growing season (days)133d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st77th
Outdoors & history
Big TimberBoulder
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land17.4%—
National Register places43
Archive photos1512
Famous people born here5—
Community
Big TimberBoulder
Library hours a week40 hrs42 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

108 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Big TimberMTBoulderMT
Big Timber ↔ Boulder108 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Big TimberBoulder
People
Population 1,611Highest 1,284Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.5%Lowest MT: +9.6% +1.5%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 43.6±5.4Highest 8% above MT 41.4±7.7Lowest about the MT average
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.8%±4.6Highest MT: 21% 20.3%±6.8Lowest MT: 21%
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29.1%±5.8Highest MT: 20.1% 19.8%±5.7Lowest MT: 20.1%
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.2%Lowest MT: 35.2% 22.1%Highest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.9%±2Lowest MT: 5.2% 5.5%±3.8Highest MT: 5.2%
Boulder and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,898±$13kLowest 8% below MT $72,500±$22kHighest about the MT average
Boulder and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $278,200±$25kHighest 26% below MT $212,300±$44kLowest 44% below MT
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,109±$292Highest about the MT average $928±$282Lowest 14% below MT
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,433Lowest 47% below MT $1,834Highest 32% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.5%±23.4Highest MT: 44.8% 12.2%±21.6Lowest MT: 44.8%
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.4%Highest MT: 11.5% 3.8%Lowest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 80.3%Highest MT: 69.2% 73.3%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1965Lowest 16 yrs older than MT 1971Highest 10 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minLowest about the MT average 25 minHighest 30% above MT
Work from home 12.5%±7.6Highest MT: 12.5% 7%±5.2Lowest MT: 12.5%
Big Timber and Boulder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 34.6%Highest 2.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 3.3 miLowest 25.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.27Highest 0.59Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Billings (7%)Helena (32%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BoulderFew work in Big Timber
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 17.4%Highest 5.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 125Highest 97.0Lowest
Schools
School district Big Timber Elem · Sweet Grass County H SBoulder Elem · Jefferson H S
High school in town Sweet Grass Co High SchlJefferson High School
Students per teacherat that high school 11.5Lowest 16.1Highest
Montana average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Big Timber neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Big Timber’s Town Square.

Boulder neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Life in Boulder

1 neighbor in Boulder can answer.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Montana towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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